I didn't know anything about this film prior to watching it, except that it was supposedly a grim tale, and the (English) title gives away plenty, too. Though based on the Richard Speck murders, the best part of this movie is mostly an artistic interpretation when compared to the facts of the case. So, it is 'inspired by', but this cinematic treatise is inspiring all by itself.
'Naked Massacre' begins in Belfast, Ireland, at the time of 'The Troubles', which provides a bleak and harsh background for the events (as opposed to the Speck case, which took place in Chicago, and also, the main character differs substantially from Richard Speck). Protagonist Cain Adamson (Cain, son of Adam...?) is an army man who just returned from serving in Vietnam and he gets stuck (temporarily, he hopes) in Belfast. There are not many events for some time, but something is brewing. He wanders through the streets, looking for money to continue his journey, and meets with some peculiar characters, one of whom is an Asian man who reads him like a book; the viewer understands that Cain has a lot going on inside him - but up until he visits the nurses' house, the director pretty much keeps us guessing (it's as if even Cain keeps himself guessing).
Then he enters the nurses' house and Cain begins to unravel as much as the story does. Both him and his victims are given such a human touch (by both the writing and the actors) it is hard to take, let alone comprehend. This should be all I give away about it, if you are a(n amateur) student of (extreme) human behaviour, or simply a fan of exploitation films, you can not, may not, miss this one. It reminded me at times of the work of Alan Clarke.
Too bad about the voice-dubbing and some parts of the film that had lesser impact (the civil war setting in Belfast to me was unnecessary, some acting, scenes and characters were a little too clichéd and / or below par). I would give the greater part of the film 7 or 8 out of 10, but the 'main course' should be worth 10 out of 10, so I feel it deserves at least a small 9.
'Naked Massacre' begins in Belfast, Ireland, at the time of 'The Troubles', which provides a bleak and harsh background for the events (as opposed to the Speck case, which took place in Chicago, and also, the main character differs substantially from Richard Speck). Protagonist Cain Adamson (Cain, son of Adam...?) is an army man who just returned from serving in Vietnam and he gets stuck (temporarily, he hopes) in Belfast. There are not many events for some time, but something is brewing. He wanders through the streets, looking for money to continue his journey, and meets with some peculiar characters, one of whom is an Asian man who reads him like a book; the viewer understands that Cain has a lot going on inside him - but up until he visits the nurses' house, the director pretty much keeps us guessing (it's as if even Cain keeps himself guessing).
Then he enters the nurses' house and Cain begins to unravel as much as the story does. Both him and his victims are given such a human touch (by both the writing and the actors) it is hard to take, let alone comprehend. This should be all I give away about it, if you are a(n amateur) student of (extreme) human behaviour, or simply a fan of exploitation films, you can not, may not, miss this one. It reminded me at times of the work of Alan Clarke.
Too bad about the voice-dubbing and some parts of the film that had lesser impact (the civil war setting in Belfast to me was unnecessary, some acting, scenes and characters were a little too clichéd and / or below par). I would give the greater part of the film 7 or 8 out of 10, but the 'main course' should be worth 10 out of 10, so I feel it deserves at least a small 9.